St_Francis_P:cameroncrazy1984: Carlip: are these the same folks from the black panthers that were standing outside polls with clubs during the 2008 elections that got their charges dropped by Eric Holder?

Considering the charges were dropped by the Bush Admin, no.

Ahem:

[www.strangecosmos.com image 450x385]

kronicfeld:cameroncrazy1984: Considering the charges were dropped by the Bush Admin, no.

Each early voting and election day polling place must be organized with 100 foot distance markers posted at surrounding outside entries to the building. During the voting period and inside this protected area, it is prohibited to electioneer, including expressing preference for or against any candidate, measure, or political party; per Sections 61.003 and 85.036 of the Code, a violation of this provision is a Class C misdemeanor. Id. §§ 61.003, 85.036. It is also prohibited to use a sound amplification device to electioneer within 1,000 feet of the early voting or election day polling place; per Section 61.004 of the Code, a violation of this provision is a Class C misdemeanor. Id. § 61.004. (Applicable to early voting under Section 81.002 of the Code.) Id. § 81.002.

...yeah, actually, that might be grounds to ask them to flip the T-Shirt. And, yes, I think they probably should have, if the request was made by a poll worker.

Handing out bottled water is iffy. Pretty definite no-no if it has an organization or political logo. Ditto if not given to anyone asking. Even then... might fall under the laws covering giving someone something for voting, which I understand is banned even if it's not for voting a particular way.

There may also be some rules as to where entry to the "polling station" is exactly defined. Lines can sometimes run longer, out into the partisan-allowed zone.

...yeah, actually, that might be grounds to ask them to flip the T-Shirt. And, yes, I think they probably should have, if the request was made by a poll worker.

Handing out bottled water is iffy. Pretty definite no-no if it has an organization or political logo. Ditto if not given to anyone asking. Even then... might fall under the laws covering giving someone something for voting, which I understand is banned even if it's not for voting a particular way.

There may also be some rules as to where entry to the "polling station" is exactly defined. Lines can sometimes run longer, out into the partisan-allowed zone.

So those "I voted" stickers are illegal? Damn, I wanted one!

Also, the section of Texas law that I cited earlier was clear: no electioneering inside the 100 foot markers. Outside that 100 feet, fair game.

Sorry, subby. In Virginia, the boundary is 40 feet from any entrance to a polling place.

I used to vote at a school where people would stand just outside the legal boundary handing out party "voting guides." They would hand one of these to you, you would walk into the school and immediately an election volunteer would start yelling at you because you're not supposed to have the campaign literature in public view. It was literally 10 seconds between the time it was handed to you and the time you got chewed out for having it in your hand.

Rockford received a phone call from downtown telling her to "stand down."

"All of the sudden one of the clerks, Dayan Cohen, said that someone wanted to speak to me on the phone. It was someone from downtown. I got on the phone and she said she was from downtown and that I needed to stand down and that it was okay for the NAACP to be within 100 ft. and they could hand out water.

was it Petula Clark?

"I told her that the NAACP was inside the building, wearing the NAACP clothing and caps"

I served as a poll monitor in Detroit for Election Protection in 2004 and we were allowed to be in the polls temporarily if asked to assist by a voter. Our shirts had a ton of non-profit logos on them--mostly lefty-labor but not all. Mostly we stood outside the external door but I did have to intervene with a Republican lawyer who was getting challenge happy harassing with older frail black female voters. Everyone I worked with was nice and professional that day except for that one prick-ass prick. Had to call another lawyer in to counter his actions.

FTFA: I got on the phone and she said she was from downtown and that I needed to stand down

Some nebulous "downtown" figure? If people were advocating for their candidate inside the polling station then she should have called the local police or county sheriff's office. If this is bonafide, why did she not do that? The story just stops.

Handing out refreshments is not a violation of the restrictions for campaigning at the polls. Neither is talking about how you would vote or whom you support. You may not display campaign materials or solicit votes within xx feet of a polling station (your mileage may vary.)

True the Vote is a voter suppression group and deserves no attention from anyone.

Fark Me To Tears:Sorry, subby. In Virginia, the boundary is 40 feet from any entrance to a polling place.

I used to vote at a school where people would stand just outside the legal boundary handing out party "voting guides." They would hand one of these to you, you would walk into the school and immediately an election volunteer would start yelling at you because you're not supposed to have the campaign literature in public view. It was literally 10 seconds between the time it was handed to you and the time you got chewed out for having it in your hand.

God Bless Democracy.

I'm an election officer in VA. Voters are allowed to wear/carry whatever election-related things they darn well want. They're not allowed to talk to other voters, the election officers, or the partisan observers about politics (*), although "Hey, how's your son doing" would be ok. But you're certainly allowed to carry the sample ballots in your hand.

Jokes are sort of ok. Joking about voting often, or about the paper ballot machine being a shredder. is nowhere in the same league as joking about having a bomb while at the airport, for example.

(*) especially the partisan observers, they're not allowed to start up conversations.

Remember folks, 90% of the stuff is volunteers and/or people making a cool $50-$150 a day for this. Throw in thousands of lawyers, vigilantes, etc., and it's amazing our elections proceed as well as they do.

stpickrell:Remember folks, 90% of the stuff is volunteers and/or people making a cool $50-$150 a day for this. Throw in thousands of lawyers, vigilantes, etc., and it's amazing our elections proceed as well as they do.

Shiat, the Black Panthers do that for free yo.

In AZ and GA 'volunteers' (partisan hacks) are not allowed within 100 yards of the building.

there is absolutely no evidence this occurred and judging by how it's only being reported on prestigious sites like brietbart and townhall I'm going to call that this story is 100% legit so you should vote for Romney suck it libs

Do republicans really not know what google is? Here is a map of the Montgomery county, the county Houston TX is in, early voting locations http://co.montgomery.tx.us/election/pdf/EV2012.pdf?ts=1023345692 . No where on this map is the address referenced in the article.

jonnnney:Do republicans really not know what google is? Here is a map of the Montgomery county, the county Houston TX is in, early voting locations http://co.montgomery.tx.us/election/pdf/EV2012.pdf?ts=1023345692 . No where on this map is the address referenced in the article.

jonnnney:Do republicans really not know what google is? Here is a map of the Montgomery county, the county Houston TX is in, early voting locations http://co.montgomery.tx.us/election/pdf/EV2012.pdf?ts=1023345692 . No where on this map is the address referenced in the article.

I'd imagine as long as a state shows up with a full slate of electors, federal law is reasonably quiet about the actual polling. (As distinct from campaigning, which crosses state lines by definition).

Hey, I'd like one of you lawyer types with a GED in law to help me out here. I live in Mississippi, where they tried to pass a voter ID law. It hasn't been implemented yet because the DoJ has to review it first before it can take effect (due to Mississippi's long history of disenfranchising certain segments of the population). The secretary of state and governor have both made ambiguous statements with the purposeful intention of confusing people as to whether or not a photo ID is necessary to vote during this election (it isn't).

What should I do if the blue-haired old biatches down at the church I vote in ask me for a photo ID? Is it legal for me to record them? Who should I report them to?